For the first time since it began, a season of the Netflix dating experiment Love Is Blind has ended without a single couple getting married. The show’s creator, Chris Coelen, is speaking out about the historic outcome from the Denver-based season, explaining why this doesn’t mean the experiment has failed.
What Happened in the Season 9 Finale?
The season followed three engaged couples to the finale: Ali and Anton, Kalybriah and Edmond, and Megan and Jordan. However, none of them ended up married. Megan and Jordan called off their wedding before even making it to the altar. At her wedding, Ali told Anton she could not marry him. While Edmond said “I do” to Kalybriah, she ultimately said no.
This marks a first for the franchise, which has seen numerous couples marry and stay together over its nine seasons.
Creator Chris Coelen Explains the Outcome
Chris Coelen shared his perspective on the unprecedented season. He said he was honestly surprised this was the first season without a marriage, but he supports the participants’ decisions.
“Whether they succeed or fail, the trying is the most enjoyable and important part to me,” Coelen stated. “It shows the participants made real choices based on authentic emotion.”
He pushed back against the idea that the show’s concept is broken. Coelen explained that the experiment has always been about emotional vulnerability, not a guaranteed marriage. He described the Denver cast as bringing a different energy, with “intensity and introspection” that shaped the season.
“This experiment is about emotional vulnerability, not about guaranteeing marriage. If one person walks away having learned about themselves, then to me, that’s success,” Coelen said.
Is the Love Is Blind Experiment Still Working?
According to Coelen, the fact that couples are making genuine choices for themselves is proof the show is working as intended. He argued that the core of the experiment is to test if love formed without sight can survive the pressures of the real world. In Season 9, at least one person in each couple decided it could not.
“In Season 9, at least one member of each couple felt their love was not strong enough to overcome the challenges of the real world, and they chose not to get married. That’s exactly how the experiment is supposed to work, so I would say not only is the experiment working, I think it’s working better than ever,” Coelen explained.
He added that the journey is what matters, and the choices made by the Denver participants were a reflection of their truth.
A Cast Member’s Perspective
Cast member Jordan also commented on the season’s outcome. He supported the collective decision to prioritize their real lives over fan expectations, noting that a marriage from the show is a real legal commitment.
“It’s a real marriage. You get a real marriage certificate,” Jordan said. “Everyone made the right choice, because we’re not getting married just because it plays well on TV.”
The Show’s Proven Success
Despite this season’s outcome, Love Is Blind remains a powerhouse for Netflix. The series has consistently ranked at the top of Nielsen’s streaming charts. One week in 2024, the show hit number one for the first time with 2.11 billion viewing minutes. The franchise has produced many lasting marriages and even several babies.
Fans can catch the Love Is Blind Season 9 reunion, hosted by Nick and Vanessa Lachey, to see the Denver pod squad discuss their journeys.
Also Read: Love Is Blind’s Megan and Jordan Navigate Communication and Blending Their Lives
Also Read: The True Story Behind Netflix’s “No One Saw Us Leave”: Where Is Tamara Trottner Now?
